Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-06-18
CHAPTER XII.
OVER 1T.

On leaving the house Bessie and John took
their way down the long avenue of blue
gums. This venue was old Silas Croft's
particular pride, for although it had only
been planted for about twenty years, tho
trees, which in the divine climate and virgin
soil of tho Transvaal grow at tho most ex-
traordinary rate, were for the most pnrt very
lofty, and us thick in tho stem us English oaks
Of $50 years standing.
Down this charming avenue John and
Bessie walked, and on reaching its limit turned
to the right and followed n little footpath
winding in md out of the rocks that built up
the plateau OH the hillside on which the house
stood. Presently this led them through tho
orchard, and then came q bare strip of vcldt,
very dangerous spot In u thunderstorm, but
n great safeguard to the house md trees round
it, for tho iron stone cropped up here, and
from the house ono might generally see flash
after flash striking down on to it and even
running and zigzagging about its surface. To
the left of this were some cultivated lands,
and i'll front of them tho plantation in which
John was anxious to inspect some recently
planted wattles.
When he had finished looking ut tho young
trees he returned. On getting to tho border
of the plantation he paused to look at Bessie,
who was some twenty PAGES from him,
pcrched sideways on tho low sod wall, and
framed, as in the full, rich light of the set
ting sun Her hat was Off, for the sun had
lost its burning force, and the hand that held
it hung idly by her, while her eyes were
fixed on the horizon flaming with oil the
varied glores of tho African sunset. Ie
gazed ut her sweet face and lissomo form,
and some lines that lie had read years before
tloated idly into his mind:
The little curls about her head
Were all her crown Of gold,
Her delicate arms dropped downward
III slender mold,
AS white vcined leaves Of lilies
Curve and fold.
She moved to measure Of music
AS n swan sails the stream.
lie had got as far as this when de turned
and saw him, and lie gave up tho poetry in
the presence Of one who might well have in
spired it.
"What are you looking at?" she said with
a smile; "the sunset?'
mo; I was looking at you"
"Ihen you might have been better employed
head quickly. "Look ut it! Did you ever
see such a sunsetl We sometimes get them
like that at this time Of tho year, when the
thunderstorm are about.n
She was right; it was glorious. The heavy
clouds which n couple Of hours before had
been rolling like celestial hearses across the
azure deeps were now aflame with glory.
Some Of them glowed like huge castles
wrapped in fire, others with the dull red heat
OF burning coal.
John stood and looked at it, and it, living,
glowing beauty seemed to fire his imagina-
ton, as it fired earth and heaven, in such
sort that the torch of love lit upon his heart
like tho sunbeams OH the mountain tops.
Then from the celestial beauty of the skies he
turned to contemplate the earthly beauty OF
the woman who sat there before him, and
found that also fair. Whether it was the
contemplation Of tho glorics of nature-for
there is always a suspicion Of melancholy in
beautiful things-or whatever it was, her
face had q touch of sadness on it that he had
never seen before, and which certainly added
to its charm as q shadow adds to the charm
Of the light.
"What arc you thinking Of, Bessie" he
asked.
She looked up, and he saw that her lips
were quivering a little. "Well, do you
know" she said, ~ was, oddly enough,
thinking of my mother. can only just re-
member her, a roma with a thin, sweet
face. 1 remember one evening she was sitting
i'll front Of u house, just as the sun was set
ting like it is now, and l was playing by her,
when suddenly she called me to her and
kissed me, and then pointed to the rel clouds
that were gathered in the sky, and said: 4
wonder if you will ever think of me. dear,
when l have passed through those golden
gates? l did not understand what she meant
then, but somehow l have remembered the
words, and though she died so long ago I do
often think Of her." and two large tears
rolled down her face as she spoke.
Few men can bear to see a sweet and pretty
woman in tears, and this little incident was
too much for John, whose caution and doubts
oil went to tho winds together, and have not
since been heard of.
Bessie" be said, "don't cry. dear; please,
don't! can't bear to sec you cry"
She looked up as though to demonstrate at
his words, and then looked down again.
listen, Bessie" he went on, awkwardly
snouch II haua hot sonaAthin1 to say TO you